Chief Technical Specialist - National Aid Coordination Committee

Since December 2005, the Burundi government has made good on its commitment to improve aid management and coordination through the implementation of a national aid coordination structure called (National Aid Coordination Committee – CNCA). In 2008, a group of donors established a ‘Basket Fund’ managed by the UNDP to support the Burundian government in strengthening the aid coordination mechanisms and implementing the CSLP for a period of three years (2008-2010). Achievements include among others: support for the launch and establishment of the Programme Coordination Group (PCG), which is a significant mechanism to promote the implementation of the Paris Declaration, of which the CNCA is the kingpin; the constitution and launch of the PCG’s sectional groups; and the development and adoption of the first report on aid flow to Burundi. Although the Basket Fund has provided effective support to the CNCA, the challenges with regard to building the national technical capacity to coordinate aid remain. It is particularly the young age of its mechanism – the CNCA and its Permanent Secretariat and the new character of the field in a country emerging from a crisis that requires a technical and strategic investment at the level of the development challenges faced by Burundi. The lack of synergy and links between national planning (Vision 2025 and CSLP), budget (medium-term and annual), and aid coordination do not make the choice of priorities and arbitration with regard to allocating resources easy, limits the capacity for monitoring and the effectiveness and impact of public policies. It has also been noted that the sectional groups implemented within the framework of the Partners Coordination Group do not yet have the political and technical leadership required to feed a coherent strategic planning dynamic, aligned with the Medium Term Expenditures Framework (MTEF) and National Budget. Coordinated action is essential to strengthen the ties between the different links of this chain and this is all the more necessary since Burundi is already committed to the process of developing CSLP II, which should be implemented as of 2011. For the UNDP, building national capacities with regard to aid coordination and bolstering the synergies between planning and national budget has become even more urgent in a context affected by the global economic crisis. Furthermore, the Accra Action Agenda has raised new challenges for Burundi and its technical and financial partners in the area of alignment, harmonization, mutual responsibility and transparency, among others. It is for these reasons that in October 2010, and addendum to this project was adopted with the intention of strengthening the benefits of the Basket Fund and extending its activities to the other key institutions, in order to support the various government actors, so that each can fully play his role, and to strengthen the links of the planning, budget and aid coordination chain, which will lead to successful implementation of CSLP II. The goal of extending the Basket Fund’s activities is to support the different government actors so that each can fully play his role and to strengthen the links of the planning, budget and aid coordination chain, which will lead to successful implementation of CSLP II. Within the framework of the direct implementation planned for this project, the UNDP is hiring a Chief Technical Specialist (CTS) to ensure the strengthening of national capacities through the said project of technical assistance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the leadership of the Country Director and the direct supervision of the UNDP Senior Economist, and in close collaboration with the SP/CNCA, the CTS is responsible for overall management of the project, in compliance with programming approach, and UNDP rules and procedures to obtain the results expected by the project. The CTS is therefore responsible for the following: Overall management of the project within the framework of the activities and results expected by the aid project. Planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the project’s activities and managing their implementation. Administrative management, supervision, reporting and capitalization of the results. Building national capacities and sharing knowledge. Mobilizing the resources and strengthening the partnership for the project’s benefit. Overall management of the project within the framework of the activities and results expected by the aid project: Collaborating with government partners and the project’s financial partners; Ensuring the consistency and coherence of the project’s activities with other Unit programmes; In coordination with the national counterpart, contribute to strengthening the strategic ties between all the links of the planning, budget and aid coordination chain; Representing the project before national and international partners, including the project’s target groups. Planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the project’s activities and managing their implementation: In coordination with the national counterpart, providing for the preparation, adoption and implementation of the project’s annual and quarterly work plan; In coordination with the national counterpart, monitor the implementation of the activities of the project’s annual and quarterly work plan agreed upon with the project’s steering committee; Develop and implement the project’s monitoring and evaluation plan based on expected results; Ensuring gender consideration during planning, implementation and monitoring-evaluation of the project; Coordinate and participate in preparing the studies expected by the project; Prepare documents and make them available for the steering committee meetings to support management of the project; Provide a quarterly and annual report on the project; In coordination with the national counterpart, organize and coordinate the evaluations provided in the project document; Supervise the financial control, related reports, and financial files; Provide for any other coordination duty required to achieve the project’s expected results effectively. Administrative management, supervision, reporting and capitalization of the results: Provide for the project’s administrative and financial management; Provide for the entire identification procedure and technical assistance implementation, and for all needs for support required by the project; Coordinate the production of narrative and financial report on the project; Capitalize on good practices, lessons learned and the project’s conclusions; Provide regular communication of the project’s results and good practices. Building national capacities and sharing knowledge: Establish and implement a national counterpart capacity building plan to contribute to implementing effective and perennial national aid coordination mechanisms; Train and provide coaching to the CNCA national planning, implementation and monitoring-implementation partners in this project; Document the project’s progress, impacts and lessons learned. Mobilizing the resources and strengthening the partnership for the project’s benefit: Contribute to preparing proposals and requests for funding to cover all of the project’s financial needs; In close collaboration with the Policies and Strategies Unit Chief, identify other priority needs and provide for the preparation of funding projects and proposals; In coordination with the Policies and Strategies Unit and national counterpart, ensure a link with the project’s financial partners and potential financing agencies. Impact of Key Results: The key results have an impact on the success of country office programme within the specific area of Aid Coordination. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships in the field of activities of the CNCA and reaching resource mobilization targets. It will also impact UNDP visibility vis-à-vis the Government counterparts.

Competencies

ETHICS AND VALUES Works collaboratively with team members sharing information openly and displaying cultural awareness and sensitivity Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals Integrates the ideas of team members from other disciplines/perspectives into his/her thinking by leveraging the different experiences and expertise DEVELOPING AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE/COACHING AND MENTORING Integrates himself/herself into the work unit, taking responsibility for own contribution to achieving team results Helps peers to identify their unique strengths and weaknesses, training and development needs Takes appropriate risk in developing new or adapting existing methods and approaches to more effectively perform tasks or to solve problems in new and unique ways. COMMUNICATING INFORMATION AND IDEAS Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner Actively listens and shares information in meetings and group discussions, Responds positively to criticism Uses tact and sensitivity when delivering sensitive information or resolving delicate issues KNOWLEDGE SHARING / CONTINUOUS LEARNING Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge, using technology to share knowledge where possible Acknowledges others’ skill sets and expertise, encourages and facilitates the sharing of that knowledge and creates learning opportunities for others Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development and keeps abreast of new developments in his/her professional field BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Identifying and building partnerships Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UNDP’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UNDP’s mandate Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings CLIENT ORIENTATION Contributing to positive outcomes for the client Anticipates client needs Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services Solicits feedback on service provision and quality RESOURCE MOBILIZATION Implementing resource mobilization strategies Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach Identifies and compiles lessons learned Promotes and encourages country office action with local missions of donor countries as well as appropriate government authorities for increased contribution to UNDP resources, including cost sharing modalities Identifies country needs and develops proposals to be presented to donors and governments Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level CREATING VISIBILITY FOR UNDP/SUPPORTING UNDP’S CAPACITY TO ADVOCATE Developing promotional projects and organizational messages Identifies and develops activities to enhance the visibility of UNDP Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation information identifying areas requiring higher visibility Develops messages for use by UNDP staff when working with partners, internationally and nationally Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages Conducts assessments of activities to improve impact and effectiveness

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Master’s degree in Political Sciences, International Relations or Law, in Economy and Social Sciences or other relevant fields. Experience: Minimum 7 years’ experience in managing development programmes/projects and at least 5 years of experience in developing countries (preferably in the LDCs). Professional experience in Africa considered an asset. Minimum 3 years’ experience in formulating and monitoring policies in the area of aid coordination and management in accordance with the principles of the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda. Significant experience in results oriented planning and management Familiarity with Public Finance Management and Medium Term Expenditures Framework. Familiarity with the international cooperation institutional environment in the context of countries post conflict (NGOs, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the United Nations System, etc.) Ability to develop proposals and requests for funding that are bankable in strategic areas. Professional experience in international organizations and in the United Nations System in particular Languages required : Fluency in French and English. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Chief Technical Specialist - National Aid Coordination Committee